Hayes moves on in match play

The 17 year-old junior at School of the Osage defeated Samantha Cornelius of Hamilton after eight holes of golf had been played in the opening round.­

Derek Helling Lake Sun Sports Editor

On Tuesday, June 17 Lake Ozark resident Taylor Hayes moved on in the Missouri Golf Association's Junior Match Play Championship at Columbia Country Club.The 17 year-old junior at School of the Osage defeated Samantha Cornelius of Hamilton after eight holes of golf had been played in the opening round.­"I was hitting it well, making good putts. I had never faced her [Cornelius] before and this was her first year in my age group as well as her first time doing match play," Hayes said.Hayes not only benefitted from the inexperience of her competitor, but her own experience."I played this course about a month ago. The fairways are tight and lined with trees. The green have some pretty good slopes but they are in great shape. The roughs are great too, allowing me to hit it far enough to that I can avoid the wood-shots on the par-4s. Hayes moves on to the quarterfinal round, in which she will face Bailey Yost of Warrensburg. If Hayes prevails over Yost on Wednesday, she would play in the semifinals on Thursday against either Sarah Bell from Jackson or Amanda Baker from Columbia."I have played with her [Yost] in stroke play before. None of these girls get to this point being bad golfers," Hayes elaborated.This event is also acting as a warm-up of sorts for the Four State Championship that Hayes will be on a team representing Missouri in starting Monday in Moravia, Iowa."There's a good difference because that [the Four State] will be stroke play and this is match play, but I'm excited to get to represent my state. Missouri teams have won it several times and I'm hoping we can bring home another championship," Hayes commented.Before she gets to Monday, however, Hayes has unfinished business in Columbia. The field is loaded with talents, but Hayes has a good shot to bring the momentum of a match play championship with her to Moravia.

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